Peace officers: confidential communications: exceptions: group peer support services.

Senator Grayson's legislation expands confidentiality protections for law enforcement personnel participating in peer support programs by extending coverage to group support settings while adding juvenile delinquency proceedings as an authorized disclosure exception. The bill modifies California's Law Enforcement Peer Support and Crisis Referral Services Program, which enables law enforcement agencies to establish peer networks for personnel seeking assistance with emotional or professional challenges.

The amendments broaden the definition of protected communications to include interactions between law enforcement personnel during group peer support sessions led by trained team members or mental health professionals. These confidential communications remain protected from disclosure except under specific circumstances, such as when necessary to prevent death or substantial bodily harm, when the officer provides written consent, or during criminal and juvenile proceedings. The bill maintains existing exclusions for communications involving criminal admissions or attempts to deceive critical incident investigations.

Under the revised framework, law enforcement personnel retain the right to prevent disclosure of confidential communications made during both individual and group support services, while peer support team members must continue operating within defined parameters for permissible information sharing. The changes preserve the program's core confidentiality protections while adapting them to accommodate evolving service delivery methods and necessary legal proceedings.